Officer charged in death of K-9 partner allegedly left in hot car after shift

SAVANNAH, Mo. (KCTV/Gray News) - A Missouri police department held a farewell service in honor of a K-9 officer after his handler was charged in his death.

K-9 Horus, who worked for the Savannah Police Department, died in June after investigators say his handler, Police Lt. Daniel Zeigler, left him inside a patrol vehicle following an overnight shift.

The Missouri Attorney General’s Office charged Zeigler with one count of animal abuse Friday, KCTV reports.

Community members gathered Saturday morning to pay a final farewell to Horus at his grave, which is marked by a donated headstone. Following Horus’ death, the police department was informed the K-9 could not be buried in the city cemetery because of current laws.

Horus died June 20 from complications after police say he was left in Zeigler’s hot police car.

The car is equipped with a safety feature that kicks in when its interior reaches 90 degrees, according to a probable cause statement. At that point, the car is supposed to honk and the windows roll down.

Investigators tested the car after Horus died. The probable cause statement shows the safety feature worked as intended at that time. Investigators said they believed someone turned off the car’s safety feature.

The probable cause statement also shows a witness reported seeing Horus’ body on the ground next to Zeigler’s police car. They reported hearing the handler yelling that he thought he’d taken the K-9 inside at the end of his shift.